Happier at Home - Likewise Book Reviews

"One of the best home "declutter"/ "minimalist" book I've ever read. I loved the ideas presented, it feels like REAL ways to improve your home, not unrealistic dreams for the dream pinterest home. "

"I listened to the audiobook version of this book on Audible, narrated by Gretchen Rubin. <br/><br/><br/>I didn’t like it as much as The Happiness Project, perhaps because I had already read that one, but I appreciated Happier At Home as well. Gretchen is good at making me feel at home with her. I loved all her specific examples of the things she undertook to be happier each month of her 8 month happiness project - not because those things specifically are what I want, but because specificity helps me think about how to apply the general truths to my life. Gretchen is great at reminding me that pursuing what she calls “happiness” isn’t selfish. Her version of happiness actually reminds me a lot of Matthew Kelly’s (see: Rediscovering Catholicism etc) idea of “the best version of yourself”. While the happiness project stuff isn’t explicitly religious, and Gretchen doesn’t undertake any spiritual resolutions (which I’d love to see, since religiosity is correlated with many of the things that lead to happiness!), many of the resolutions could help a person towards holiness. Some are just fun, but being a good wife, mother, neighbour, friend, coworker, and sister is a step to holiness; caring for the things that need to be done like picking up litter is a step to holiness; suffering for fifteen minutes a day to do something that needs to be done and thus subjugating your will is a path to holiness; revelling in the beauty of art and Creation is a step to holiness. <br/><br/>I love Gretchen’s work and ultimately feel inspired, and not chastised or overwhelmed, by it. Many self help books lead to guilt and overwhelm for me. <br/><br/>This book didn’t get five stars because it felt less tightly focused and organized than happier at home."